Creator: Katelyn Mulcahy | Credit: Getty Images
Fantasy football is a game of predicting trends and staying ahead of the curve. A valuable aspect of fantasy is finding players who have underperformed but are in a position to make a bounce back. Recognizing and taking advantage of those poised for a bounce-back season can be the key to winning your league. Here, we take a look at several quarterbacks who had higher finishes in previous seasons but regressed in 2023 and are now in a position to have a higher output this year.
Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes finished as the QB8 last year following a 5,250-yard, 41 touchdown campaign in 2022, making him the quarterback that is most setup for a bounce back year. His 2023 season saw a dip in production mostly due to the departure of Tyreek Hill, but there were also issues with injuries to the offensive line that made it hard for Mahomes to produce. With more stability in the offensive line, improved chemistry with his new receivers, and the continued success of play-calling from Andy Reid, Mahomes is set to return to elite fantasy status.
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford had challenging 2022 and 2023 seasons flawed by injuries and inconsistency. After leading the Rams to a Super Bowl win and finishing as the QB5 in 2021, Stafford has struggled to recapture that caliber in back to back seasons. However, with a fully healthy Cooper Kupp and an improved offensive line, Stafford is in prime position for a comeback. Sean McVay’s strong offensive mind and Stafford’s veteran status and arm talent make him a strong candidate for a bounce back in the upcoming season.
Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
This one is interesting, with almost all of Herbert’s previous weapons gone, it is difficult to see the path for a bounce back from what was an underwhelming 2023 season that was capped off by a season-ending surgery. The new blood in the coaching staff and Jim Harbaugh coupled with Herbert’s natural talent is what makes him an interesting pick in fantasy this year. He has shown that he is capable of being an elite-level fantasy quarterback, the only thing that will hold him back is his supporting cast.
Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
Deshaun Watson was a strong candidate for a bounce back heading into last year, since his 2021 and 2022 seasons were clouded by issues off the field, eventually resulting in an 11-game suspension in 2022. In 2023 it was injuries, leading to another disappointing fantasy performance. Moving on from the past three seasons’ woes, Watson is trying to prove himself once again with his history of elite fantasy production in the past with the Houston Texans. With a full offseason to rehabilitate his shoulder and build chemistry with his new receiver Jerry Jeudy, Watson is a solid candidate for a bounce-back season. His playmaking ability along with the presence of a strong supporting cast makes him a pick with high upside for those who are brave enough to take a chance on his possible return to elite status.